[General Incorporated Association Children and Students VR Free Research Conference Organizing Committee] [VR Free Research Theme Award] Elementary school students in Osaka City receive awards for Dementia Support Team and Natural Disaster Simulator
*General Incorporated Association Children and Students VR Free Research Conference Organizing Committee*
Press release: September 10, 2024
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[VR Free Research Theme Award] Elementary school students in Osaka city receive award for Dementia Support Team/Natural Disaster Simulator
*Children/Student VR Free Research Conference 4th Osaka Tournament: Held at Osaka Science and Technology Museum on September 1, 2024, a day to remember*
Award ceremony at the 4th Osaka Convention Osaka Science and Technology Museum (from left: Moriguchi City: Satoshi Aoyama, Osaka City: Masashi Okamoto, Nishinomiya City: Tomoyo Fukuda)
The Organizing Committee for the VR Free Competition for Children and Students (General Incorporated Association) (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director: Shigeru Yokomatsu) aims to be a national competition to produce human resources who will become future “successful scientists in the world.” On September 1, 2024, the 4th Osaka Children’s and Student VR Free Research Competition was held at the Osaka Science and Technology Museum. This time, as a first step toward realizing children’s free ideas in the real and virtual worlds using VR and AI, Professor Takemura of Osaka University will discuss a number of research projects that have been submitted by children. We selected a theme and awarded awards to the outstanding candidates. Through this competition, we created new value together with the participants.
The winner of the Senior Vice-Chairman’s Special Award was Masashi Okamoto. * Children/Student VR Free Research Competition Osaka Competition Award-Winning Research Theme “Dementia Support Team” Summary by Google Gemini *
*Research background*
The number of dementia patients is increasing, and it is also affecting close family members.
Dementia patients often have memory problems but are physically healthy, so it is important to supervise them and ensure their safety when they go out.
Support for dementia patients living alone is also needed.
*Proposed solution*
Monitoring system using location information transmitters and sensors Select the most suitable transmitter depending on the situation, such as help marks, air tags, and IC chips.
If you have a family, a badge-shaped transmitter attached to your clothes is effective.
If you move to a different location than usual, the sensor will automatically react and notify those around you.
Sensors are installed inside the house, and if it detects an abnormality such as a fire, it will alert your smartphone or the police.
Communication and life support using VR
Voice calls from VR remind you of your bedtime, schedule, and exercise. Play competitive games and board games in VR to slow the progression of dementia.
Communicate with family and friends who live far away using VR. Using VR, we provide experiences even in situations where it is difficult to go out, such as at class reunions or visiting graves. Playing gamma wave sound in VR to reduce amyloid beta.
Listening support system using VR
Make it easier to hear the voice of the person speaking using VR or headphones. Reduce the volume of voices other than the person who is speaking, or display an arrow above the head of the person who is speaking. Possibility of improving dementia by focusing on brain function Focusing on the fact that 100% of the brain is not utilized. Based on examples of how even if one part of the brain is damaged, other parts can compensate, we are exploring the possibility of improving dementia by activating other parts of the brain.
In the future, we will develop a system that stores memories in an external storage device and supplements the necessary information with MR glasses.
* summary*
This research aims to utilize VR and sensor technology to ensure the safety of dementia patients, support communication, suppress the progression of dementia, and explore the possibility of improving dementia by focusing on brain function in the future. It is said that It is expected to reduce the burden on dementia patients and their families and contribute to the realization of a society where people can live with peace of mind.
* Children/Student VR Free Research Competition Osaka Competition Award-Winning Research Theme “Natural Disaster Simulator” Summary by Google Gemini *
*Research background*
When a natural disaster occurs, it is difficult to grasp the specific danger indoors or outdoors.
It is possible to reduce damage by predicting risks in advance and understanding appropriate countermeasures and evacuation routes. *Proposed solution*
Disaster simulation system that links MR and maps
The damage situation is simulated based on the seismic intensity set in the room photographed by MR.
Displays the danger of objects falling from bookshelves, the possibility of damage to tableware, etc. as a percentage.
Display the risk reduction effect of installing fixed equipment. Allows visual confirmation of objects falling from shelves on MR. In the future, it will also be possible to simulate outdoor disasters. Visualization of dangerous areas outdoors
Visualize specific outdoor dangers such as broken window glass from typhoons, old trees, and landslides.
Displays evacuation routes on a map in the event of a tsunami, and provides information on evacuation time and safe locations.
Utilization in schools and companies
When leaving school in groups, identify dangerous areas in advance and choose a safe route.
We will conduct evacuation drills using MR at hospitals, companies, etc. to save as many lives as possible.
* summary*
By combining MR technology and map information, this research aims to predict specific risks during disasters and encourage appropriate countermeasures and evacuation actions.
It is expected to contribute to disaster prevention in a wide range of situations, such as visualizing dangerous areas indoors and outdoors, guiding evacuation routes, and being used in schools and businesses.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NZfnwTw7b8
Haruo Takemura Director and Senior Vice-Chairman of the Children and Students VR Free Research Organization Committee (Specially Appointed Professor at Osaka University and former President of the Virtual Reality Society of Japan)
Future developments are joint research
We are looking for joint researchers with the VR Innovation
Organization, which is co-sponsoring the conference, and the VR Research Ethics Society Promotion Foundation, which is applying for national competitive research funding.
Two corporations in Tokyo are currently considering joint research, and we are aiming for joint research that brings together the strengths of not only children and students participating in the research, but also individuals, companies, organizations, and local governments.
Based on this tournament, we are planning the next Osaka City Tournament to be held on October 13, 2024 at Abeno Tuscal, Abeno Disaster Prevention Center, Osaka City. At a time when Japan should continue to lead world-leading research, we will continue to contribute to the development of the industry through activities in line with the purpose of the “Children and Student VR Free Research Competition” to produce human resources who will become successful scientists of the future. I am determined to contribute.
Person in charge comment
Haruki Nishiyama, Secretary General of the Organizing Committee for the VR Free Research Conference for Children and Students
Through this tournament, children will learn that by coming into contact with cutting-edge technologies such as VR and AI, they have infinite possibilities to discover problems from new perspectives and come up with solutions that are not bound by existing frameworks. It made me realize it again.
In particular, VR enables experiences in various fields such as history, science, and art. By using VR, children can have experiences that are not possible in their daily lives, expand their interests, and gain a multifaceted perspective.
The VR Free Research Conference for Children and Students will become a place to expand the potential of these children throughout society with the support of local governments and companies, and to develop future human resources who can contribute to society. I’ll go. *Children/Student VR Free Research Conference Organizing Committee (within this corporation)*
We will hold a competition across the country to produce future “scientists who will be successful in the world”
* Conference Chairman Shigeru Yokomatsu*
General Incorporated Association Children and Students VR Free Research Conference Organizing Committee/General Incorporated Association VR Innovation Organization/1
VR Research Ethics Society Promotion Foundation / Academic Promotion Specialist Association: Representative Director
*Conference Committee Chair: Michitaka Hirose*
Professor Emeritus of the University of Tokyo / University of Tokyo Advanced Science and Technology Research Center Service VR Project Leader / Chairman of the Nikkei Metaverse Consortium Future Committee * Tournament Senior Vice-Chairman Haruo Takemura*
Professor, Information Media Education and Research Department, Cybermedia Center, Osaka University, Chairman, Virtual Reality Society of Japan
*Conference Vice-Chairman Koichi Setoyama*
Director of the VR Research Ethics Society Promotion
Foundation/President of the VR Research Ethics Society: Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Bioethics Professor
*Convention Vice-Chairman Minoru Eto*
VR Research Ethics Society Director Promotion Foundation/Vice President of the VR Research Ethics Society: Professor, Osaka University Leading Interdisciplinary Research Organization
* Tournament Committee Osamu Ukimura*
Councilor of the VR Research Ethics Society Promotion
Foundation/Executive Director of the VR Research Ethics Society: Chief Professor, Department of Urological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine
* Tournament committee member: Mutsuo Sano*
VR Research Ethics Society Executive Director: Specially Appointed Professor, Department of Information and Media, Faculty of Information Science, Osaka Institute of Technology
*Convention Committee Kohei Ogawa*
Executive Director, VR Research Ethics Society: Associate Professor, Information Systems, Department of Information and Communication Engineering, Nagoya Graduate School of Engineering
* Tournament Committee Yukari Nagai*
VR Research Ethics Society Director: Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology Director/Vice President
* Tournament committee member Kotone Matsuyama*
VR Research Ethics Society Director: Nippon Medical University, School of Medicine, Medical Management, Specially Appointed Professor (Deputy Director, Research Management Center)
* Tournament committee member Kengo Yoshii*
Councilor of the VR Research Ethics Society Promotion Foundation / Director of the VR Research Ethics Society: Lecturer, Department of Biomathematics, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine
* Tournament Committee Yuka Kato*
VR Research Ethics Society Director: Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Department of Psychopathology, Assistant Professor * Tournament committee member Panote Siriaraya*
VR Research Ethics Society Director: Kyoto Institute of Technology, Department of Information Engineering and Human Sciences, Assistant Professor
* Tournament Committee Kikuo Tanaka*
Councilor of the VR Research Ethics Society Promotion
Foundation/Director of the VR Research Ethics Society: Specially Appointed Instructor at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s Aviation Safety Academy, Part-time Lecturer at Doshisha University
* Tournament Committee Hiroshi Umajima*
VR Innovation Organization, General Incorporated Association Volunteer Photography Judging Committee: Tokyo Zoo Association, General Affairs Department, Educational Promotion Center, Educational Planning Section, Animal Commentator
* Tournament committee member Hiroki Yamanishi*
Director of the Association of Academic Promotion Specialists (General Incorporated Association) / Secretariat of the VR Research Ethics Society (General Incorporated Foundation): Administrative Scrivener Yamanishi Administrative Scrivener Office
* Tournament committee member Hiroatsu Deguchi*
Member of the VR Innovation Organization (General Incorporated Association)/Volunteer Photographer Judging Committee: Google Global Program Manager
*Assistant Chair of the Tournament Katsunari Arakawa*
General Incorporated Foundation VR Research Ethics Society Promotion Foundation VR Ethics Research Society Research Consortium Chief Research Member / Organizational Foundation Association Committee Joint Management Planning Executive Officer
*Convention Secretary General Haruki Nishiyama*
Lawyer/Director of the Office of the Representative Director of the Japan Foundation Association Committee
*Brief history at the time of establishment of the corporation
* [Corporate overview] *
Name: General Incorporated Association Children and Students VR Free Research Conference Organizing Committee
Address: THE BASE Kojimachi, 9-3 Nibancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Representative: Representative Director Shigeru Yokomatsu
Officer: Director Michitaka Hirose
Director Haruo Takemura
Established: February 7, 2024
URL: https://freestudy.jp/
Corporate number 2010005037877
Purpose: To foster scientists who will lead the future of Japan, and to contribute to the promotion of academia and science and technology and the healthy development of children and youth, through holding a free VR research competition for children and students.
■VRIO Alliance
VR Innovation Organization General Incorporated Association https://vrio.jp VR Research Ethics Society Promotion Foundation https://svre.jp Association of Academic Advancement Specialists https://eaas.or.jp